12 MEMOIR OF LINNiEUS. 



'those indigenous to Sweden. In a few years the garden at Upsala 

 ranked equal, if not superior, to similar establishments in Europe. 

 In this he was also assisted by the government, who were most 

 liberal in defraying the expense, and even sending out young 

 men free, to distant countries, which immensely increased the na- 

 tional collections. In a few years, his pupils, of the most perse- 

 vering minds, were distributed over the whole world ; and their 

 various histories would form of itself a volume of the most interesting 

 kind. Of this enthusiasm for science Linnaeus thus speaks : " If 

 I look back ujjon the fate of naturalists, must I call madness or 

 reason, that desire which allures us to seek and to examine plants ? 

 The irresistible attractions of nature can alone induce us to face 

 so many dangers and troubles. No science has had so many 

 martyrs as natural history." Many of his pupils were unfortunate, 

 and fell victims to the elements, or diseases of a pestilential cli- 

 mate ; but many returned amply compensating themselves for the 

 hardships they had undergone, while their names are handed down 

 to science, in tributes which were bestowed by their venerable 

 precejjtor. 



The fame and reputation of Linnaeus had now gained him 

 both riches and honors. He was admitted a member into most ot 

 the scientific societies of Europe. The Imperial Academy distin- 

 guished him by the name of Dioscorides Secundus. The Royal 

 Academy of Sciences of Ujjsala, the Academy of Sciences at 

 Montpelier, the Royal Academies of Berlin and Paris, and Royal 

 Society of London, all ranked him among their members. In 1761, 

 he attained an additional accession of honors, being presented 

 by his sovereign with letters of nobility. His name was changed 

 to Von Linne, and arms were assumed, corresponding with his 

 new rank. But, perhaps, the most flattering testimony of the ex- 

 tent and magnitude of his fame, was that which he received from 

 the king of Spain, who invited him to settle at Madrid, with the 

 offer of an annual pension for life of two thousand pistoles, let- 



